Lane overwhelms Taft

Lane has long been a Public League power in girls soccer and if Saturday’s Public League quarterfinal playoff is any indication, the Indians aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Lane got off to a quick start, scoring nine goals in the first 26:43 and cruising to an easy 10-0 win over Taft to set up a semifinal matchup against Northside Tuesday afternoon.

Lane, which features just six seniors on its roster, got on the board when freshman Detzi Reveles scored 3:15 into the game.

However, after that goal, it quickly became the Jasmin Carrera show. The senior scored the first of her four first-half goals exactly three minutes after Reveles’.

Natalie Wade, one of seven sophomores on the squad, scored her first goal of the game in the ninth minute and Carrera followed up with her second five minutes later.

“We always want to go in there and score as many goals as we can,” said Wade. “We like to get out to fast starts.”

Carrera completed the hat trick in the 18th minute when she blasted a shot past the Taft goalie, who had come out of the box. Lane (15-4) had an easy time getting to the net, especially on the right side where there were holes the entire first half.

“We have to treat every play as if it is 0-0, even if we just scored,” said Wade, who played goalie the second half. “That way we won’t get overconfident and lose focus.”

Carrera picked up her fourth goal of the game in the 22nd minute and then became more of a distributor. Teaming with sophomore Sofia Pavon, the two continually pushed into the Taft zone, helping halt any pressure the Eagles (4-11-2) would try to put on Lane.

Anastasia Niforos scored a goal one minute after Carrera’s fourth and Pavon added one of her own a minute and a half later.

Wade picked up her second goal in the 27th minute, marking the end of the scoring the first half and giving the Indians a 9-0 lead at halftime.

“As great as our offense is, our defense is always key for us,” said Wade. “We need be able to deny teams any opportunities so we can get our offense started.”

Due to the wide margin, the game was played with a shortened second half. It didn’t matter for Lane, as Pavon scored her second goal.

Link to story: http://bit.ly/119UU8e

Young soccer keeps rolling

Azia Javier kept Young rolling through the Public League playoffs on Saturday by netting a hat trick in the Dolphins 4-0 quarterfinal victory over Lincoln Park at Lane.

“We like to score early and often,” Javier said. “We don’t like being behind, so we try to build up a lead. We are an offensive-minded team and know that the teams we’re going to see, we’ve played, but that doesn’t stop us from doing what we do.”

After playing to a stalemate for most of the first half, Javier recorded in a goal in the 26th minute for Young (14-5-2).

Javier’s second goal came 11 minutes later as she accelerated down the right side of the field, knocking it in just over the Lincoln Park goalie’s outstretched arms.

Javier wasn’t done though. Seven minutes into the second half, she took a shot from the far right corner of the box that rocketed past the goalie’s arms into the upper left corner of the goal.

Young continued the pressure and picked up its final goal when freshman Madison Ekern knocked in a goal from in front of the goal to create the final margin.

Lincoln Park (3-6-5), which had somewhat of an offensive attack in the first half, was unable to create any kind of pressure for Young defense in the second half.

“Over the season we’ve done a great job getting everyone involved, that’s something we look to do in every game,” Javier said. “We know our opponent in the next round (Payton) is a tough team because they’re in the Premier division. Every team is going to bring it because it’s the playoffs. You just have to be ready.”

Link to story: http://bit.ly/12ajhyb

Young rallies past St. Ignatius

Young did not possess the intensity it needed in the first set of its showdown with rival St. Ignatius on Friday. The Dolphins, however, were able to rally behind Tom Wesolowski’s match-high 20 kills and earn a 17-25, 25-15, 25-16 victory over the visiting Wolfpack. Continue reading

Payton pulls out win vs. Young

In a matchup of the Public League’s top two teams, Payton showed that sometimes practice isn’t perfect. The Grizzlies, who have yet to have a full practice with all of their players present, defeated host Young 21-25, 25-20, 25-12 Tuesday afternoon in both teams’ conference opener. Continue reading

College Baseball Games of the Week 2/15-2/17

Stony Brook vs. FIU

Stony Brook: Most times this would seem like an odd series to be listed in a top matchup list, but after last season’s miraculous Stony Brook run to the College World Series, the Seawolves are back to prove last year’s success wasn’t a fluke. This year won’t be as easy, however, as Stony Brook had seven players drafted in the Major League Baseball Draft, including five in the first 12 rounds. Outfielder Steve Goldstein returns as the leading hitter after hitting for a .337 average and a returning high of four home runs. He’ll be joined by infielder Kevin Courtney, who also hit four home runs and drove in 38 RBIs. Catcher Kevin Krause hit .330 IN 61 games, while knocking in 40 RBIs. Continue reading

Milwaukee Riverside cruises to win over Bogan

Bogan came in with the better record, but it was Milwaukee Riverside that walked away the victors Sunday morning as they defeated the Bengals 73-57 in the MLK Dream Classic at Young. Continue reading

Marshall rolls past Germantown

Getting off to a good start is essential for any team to be successful. Marshall exemplified that Sunday morning in the MLK Dream Classic at Young, cruising to a 62-5 win over Germantown, Pa.

Germantown scored the first basket of the game at the 6:27 mark of the first quarter, but was unable to get anything going for the rest of the game. Marshall went on a 32-0 run to end the first half and extended that lead to 40-2 before the Bears hit a free throw with 2:25 remaining in the third quarter.

Ebony Geddia, who hit the free throw in the third quarter, knocked in Germantown’s first field goal since the first quarter with 1:50 left in the final frame.

With a bench of just two players, many of Marshall’s starters played through the entire game. Junior Tyisha Saunders had 24 points and Yowana Posey added 16 to lead the Commandos (10-9). Geddia led Germantown with three points.

While the Bears (5-4) had trouble making shots, Marshall was causing havoc on its opponents with a 2-1-2 press. The pressure forced 41 Gemantown turnovers, including 28 in the first half. The Commandos turned thier defense into offense with 49 points scored off of turnovers.

Germantown, which in 1999 became the first school from out of state to play in this three-day event, was hindered by the fact it was missing four key players. Two starters were sidelined with torn ACL’s, one had a broken hand and another player was in the hospital battling Chron’s Disease.

Link to story: http://bit.ly/Umz7V9